James Martin, one of the West Midlands’ most prominent corporate recovery experts, has joined national audit, tax and advisory firm Crowe Clark Whitehill in the Midlands.
A former regional chairman of R3, the Association of Business Recovery Professionals, he has been recruited to run the Midlands practice of Crowe Clark Whitehill, CCW Recovery Solutions.
He will head a team specialising in administrations, company voluntary arrangements, individual voluntary arrangements, liquidations, bankruptcies and advising businesses facing financial difficulties.
Mr Martin said: “I am delighted to join such a well-respected and expanding firm as Crowe Clark Whitehill.
“I have spent most of my working life in the recovery world and still very much enjoy seeing a troubled company change and survive after working hard with the management team to turn it around. The Black Country has a deserved reputation for its manufacturing prowess and I hope to be at the heart of helping it thrive.
“Corporate recovery has changed considerably over the years – early intervention and restructuring are increasingly important, are things I particularly enjoy, and can get the best results. I look forward to this new challenge and am eager to pursue it.”
Midlands managing partner Johnathan Dudley said: “James has a vast circle of contacts and is a highly respected recovery specialist.
“He will hit the ground running and I am sure will prove a major asset to the practice. James is a very experienced operator and we are pleased he is on board.”
Mr Martin was educated at King Edward’s School in Birmingham and Exeter University.
He was with PwC for 19 years, and was then head-hunted by Begbies Traynor where he spent eight years.
A switch followed and he invested in Stewart Plastics, successfully establishing a venture capital backed buy-in-management-buy-out (BIMBO)
Later in 2011, he was asked to join Moore Stephens to run their Birmingham corporate recovery team but Stewart had given him an appetite for wider advisory work.
“I see Recovery Solutions as a part of the toolkit alongside Corporate Finance and good Tax and Advisory help – hence the strong attraction of joining Crowe Clark Whitehill, “ he said.
“With the recovery building after five years of hard times, and challenges of growth often catching people out, I am keen for us to be able to help businesses prosper and create jobs.”